Craft Market 9 -2 pmPork BBQ 2 - 6 pm (take out available and no advance tickets needed)Did you ever think that the orphans are some of those that have never heard the Gospel? When we talk about sharing the Gospel with the world that has never heard remember that most of the orphans around the world have never heard the Gospel. Join Ting Ministries on the crusade to the orphan - the least of the least - the voiceless!

Friday, April 17, 2015

Cedar Crest High School senior Sasha Carpenter explains the inspiration behind Veronika's Prom, a fundraising event to bring a Ukrainian orphan to the United States. Carpenter is the daughter of Brian and Stephanie Carpenter of Ting Ministries. (Adam Franz — Lebanon Daily News)

Cedar Crest student Sasha Carpenter aims to make prom count

Fundraising event to help Ukrainian orphan come to the U.S.

Sasha Carpenter chats with sister, Ellianna, Wednesday in their South Lebanon Township home. Carpenter and her friend, Jules Eichorst, have started a fundraiser to bring a Ukrainian orphan to the U.S. to live with the Eichorst family. (Adam Franz — Lebanon Daily News)

Cedar Crest senior Sasha Carpenter isn't showing any signs of "senioritis," the infamous syndrome that lulls high school seniors into apathy. In fact, she is finishing her senior year with an exclamation point.

Carpenter is the adopted daughter of Brian and Stephanie Carpenter of Ting Ministries. She was adopted by the South Lebanon Township couple at 17 months old, and now at 17 years old, she is paying her gratitude forward. Carpenter and her friend, Jules Eichorst, are raising money to bring their friend, Veronika, out of a Ukrainian orphanage and into the Eichorst household.

In Ukraine, 16-year-old orphans are "aged out" of the orphanage," Carpenter said. "This means that they are not adoptable and have to move out of the orphanage." "We want to raise awareness for teenage orphans in Ukraine and other eastern European countries," Carpenter explained. "When I was 16, I started a blog to advocate for aging out. The kids who are aged out have to find somewhere to work and live on their own, and they have no experience to do that. As a 16-year-old, this really hit me. This would have been me, had I not been adopted, and this would be Veronika if she were not adopted."

Carpenter discussed many of the harrowing statistics that correlate with orphans who become aged out. "Sixty percent of the girls end up in prostitution and trafficking," Carpenter said. Seventy percent become hardened criminals, join gangs and get into drugs. Specifically in Russia and Ukraine, 10 percent of the kids end up committing suicide before they are 18." Her stay in Ukraine a year ago coincided with the major upheavals that happened at the time. It left a lasting impression on Carpenter and provided inspiration. Her parents were in Ukraine to finalize the adoptions of two of their children. Carpenter helped her mother with the care of the children, both of whom have special needs.

For Veronika, before being adopted, she will be hosted by the Eichorsts. Hosting is different to adoption. It is mainly done over the summer, for older children, to show them America and see if they want to come here and be adopted, Carpenter said. With knowledge of what happens to aged-out orphans, the Eichorsts were adamant about adopting Veronika.

The Carpenters frequent monthly adoption meetings, called "Blessing Innocent Children," at Brethren in Christ Church in Manheim. Though the church and the group are not directly a part of the process, Carpenter is pleased to have their support. "The church and the group have been very positive and supportive moving forward with the proceedings," Carpenter's mother said.

Veronika's prom was prompted by talk of Carpenter's peers regarding prom. "Prom just isn't for me," she laughed, "I'd rather be at home reading a book." The usual energy put into prom by girls her age is now being channeled in Veronika's Prom, which will coincide with prom and raise money to help bring Veronika to the U.S.

The event will take place at 31 Limestone Court, the Eichorts' residence in Lititz, from 4:30 p.m. to midnight on May 1. It will feature games, pizza, movies and more. The time is designed to maximize the opportunity from prom-goers to stop by and make a donation before or after the dance. "We're going to collect donations at the door. Anything, even if it is just a dollar, will add up," Carpenter said. "Cedar Crest has been great, too, and very supportive. There'll be a donation box at prom, as well."

Amidst the excitement of prom, Carpenter is looking to make it a life-changing event. She was quick to say that it wasn't competing with prom, but to add to it with the perspective of saving someone's life and making it truly unforgettable.

Carpenter also chalked up much her inspiration to her faith, even pinpointing an exact Bible verse that sums up not only her philosophy, but Ting Ministries' as well. James 1:27 reads: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress."

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

NOW please pass this next message along and share on Twitter, Facebook and anywhere you can think of! We are so proud of Sasha! She is an inspiration to us! She has started the fundraiser below for Veronika! Veronika as you will read below is a Ukrainian orphan that will age out of the system this year and if she is not adopted before her birthday she will most likely become a statistic with a sad outcome! Please help Sasha to spread the word about this amazing idea. Please pass this along to flower shops, dress shops, hair salons - anywhere that has an interest in PROM and maybe they would be willing to donate a small amount of their proceeds from doing hair and nails for Prom to Veronika's Prom etc. Please also pass this along to news media and those that have access to ways to spread the word! Dear friends of ours have stepped up to adopt Veronika and we are so excited for them and precious Veronika but approximately $25,000 is needed to bring her home. It looks like a lot of money but what is the value of life?? This is nothing to our God and if we all join together and spread the word this can be raised by many giving just a little. Think of 1 dollar from every ticket bought to a prom being given to this adoption. If every school in the county got involved that is a lot of tickets and a lot of money - every school in the State getting involved and giving 1 dollar - think about those numbers - the NATION. So please support Sasha in raising funds for another teenager so that she too can have the love of a family! Please take time to read Sasha's message below and get involved how ever you can! Sasha started a Facebook page called #Veronika's Prom and you can join to watch the updates! Let's share this everywhere and bless the lives of two young girls...Veronika and Sasha!https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411838665792146/http://www.gofundme.com/veronikasprom

#Veronika's Prom

Make Your Prom Count

Did You Know...

• Russia and Ukraine do not like each other.

• In Ukraine and Russia, orphans who turn 16 become unadoptable and

age out of the orphanages. Many are forced to live on the streets with no

way to survive.

• 60 percent of girls are lured into prostitution.

• 1015

percent of orphans commit suicide before they turn 18.

• 50 percent of Eastern European orphans don't live to their 20th

birthday.

Sasha and Veronika...

My name is Sasha. I was adopted from Russia when I was 17 months old. Now

I am a senior at Cedar Crest High School. Since I was adopted, I was rescued from

becoming a nameless statistic. Now, I have the chance to experience the love of a

family, get an education, and be a normal teenager.

Veronika is a teenage orphan in Ukraine. She is fifteen and if no one adopts

her, she will age out and become a statistic. A family has stepped forward to adopt

Veronika and show her what it means to have a forever family. Now, she will get to

experience things that we take for granted.

#Veronika's Prom

This year, as a senior in high school, I have the opportunity to attend prom.

Next year, Veronika will have the chance to attend prom too. However, had a family

not chosen to adopt her and welcome her home, she would be one of the statistics I

shared above. She would not have a family. She would not be loved. She would not

matter to anyone.

In Honor of Veronika, I am choosing to not go to prom. Instead, I am

fundraising for her adoption.

The Average Cost of a Ukraine Adoption: $25,000

The Average Cost for 200 students (half my senior class) to attend prom: $55,400

On Cedar Crest Prom Night, Friday, May 1, 2015, there will be party Dedicated to Veronika.

This is for anyone! You can go to BOTH Prom and #Veronika's Prom, for a night of pizza,

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Ellianna says "RAY BUCKNELL" She is Sasha's personal cheerleader! Everyone needs an Ellianna in their life! Sasha says that if everyone had an Ellianna there JUST MIGHT BE WORLD PEACE!

Congratulations to SASHA! WE are so proud of her achievements and the amazing young woman she has become! Bucknell here she comes! Double majoring in English and Russian Studies - to one day head back to Eastern Europe and start a non-profit for Orphans who are in desperate need!

Please contact us if you would be interested in Ting Ministries coming to your church, group, Bible Study, small group or any event to speak about the Plight of the Orphans, Ting Ministries, Orphan Care, children with special needs and Adoption. Sasha shares from her heart and experience during our presentations. She shares a poem about a Boy named Nicolai from Ukraine and a story taken from the Book "Boy from Baby House 10" - both are worth hearing for yourself. Just like the message in "The Drop Box" you will not leave with dry eyes.

TING MINISTRIES BLOG

Standing with UKRAINE

Sasha's BLOG

Translate

With God NOTHING is impossible

God is looking for those through whom He can do the impossible --- what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves. A.W. Tozer

PROVERBS 24: 11 - 12

Proverbs 24:11-12(NLT)Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know. ”For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.